THE COLONIAL LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1086, 16 February 1883, Page 3

THE COLONIAL LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

The Argus writes :—lt is notoriously a fact that much of the whisky and other ardent liquors retailed under i uropean brands in this colony are largely, and in many instances entirely, composed of more or less imperfectly rectified and immature spirits produced within our own horde's Our annual production of spirits ex cccds a quarter of a mi.lion gallons, and this is almost \entirely consumed in the country, yet it\Js next to impossible to find a retailer, whether publican or grocer, who\openly professes to soil other than genuine imported liquors. The popular prejudice against the pi oduct of our distilleries is doubtless the sole cause of this state of affairs, and there is only one wav of overcoming it. Instead of sending spirits in a now state into the market let the distiller properly dcfnselise them, and keep die cleansed article in store for a sufficient period to destroy all sense of rawness. Were this done, there can be no reasonable doubt that the public would soon discover that it is not impossible to make first-class ardent liquor in Victoria. Recently distilled spirits, particularly if obtained from minia ted grain, or if imperfectly rectified, contain fuse! oil in considerable quantity.' This substance, or rather mixture of substances, imparts to the spirits a hot harsh (favour, and exercises most pernicious effects on the human system “ Spirits contaminated with fusel oil,” says Dr Hassel, “ intricate more strongly than pure spirits of the same strength, and excite in many persons even tempo vary insanitv” When spiri s are properly manufactured, the quantity of fu el oil is trifling, and in time is so altered in character as to add flavoii'' and aroma to die liquor In order to ascertain die true quality of the wins kies, brandies, and gin soli in Melbourne, samples were obtained and submitce to Mr Mclvor, F. I. C., for examination, and he now furnishes the following general report, promising further and more complete analyses at some future time : Clicmical Laboratory, 29, Queen-street, Melbourne. WniSKIHS. Five samples wore examined with the fol lowing result The whole of the specimens had a hot burning flavour, and evidently consisted of comparatively now sprit. Specific gravity ranged from 0 928 to 0 93(1, and the percentage of alcohol from 48 5 to 2T3. Acetic acid existed in minute quantity as a natural impurity, hut no mineral acid could be de tooted. Fusel oil was found in all the samples, and in three of thorn in such quantities as rendered the liquors decidedly uuwhoio some BUANPIRS. Throe samples were examined, and two of them contained fusel oil in perceptible quan tity. These appeared to have been made from colonial corn spirit. Neither mineral nor acid additions wore detected in the samples. PIN. Three samples of sweetened gin, upon ex animation, wore found to bo IS, 15, and 17 respectively below prno f . A -otic acid was present, but only in very small quantity. Alii oral salts and acids were absent. Fusil oil could not bo detected. R. W. Emerson MacTvor, F.IC, . Chemist to the V.L.V. Association. It w ufld appear from Mr Maelvor’s repot t that it is high time some stop was taken to prevent tlio sale of spirits which have not been freed from fusel oil and properly “aged.” =====